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Teachers are actively creative when they aren’t teaching. Some write books. Others produce podcasts, create art or make music. Here’s a collection of works produced by colleagues who are “out there.”
BOOKS
The Fly In The Pie
A charming children’s story about a young fly who gets stuck in a “very berry lovely cherry yummy berry” pie. Will the spider get his fly pie?! Delightfully detailed and vibrant illustrations by Miguel Angel Gonzalez from Spain.
LESLIE DAVIES
Retired principal (Calgary Catholic School District) lesliedavies181@yahoo.ca
Self-published, 2018
Available by email to author
Homes: A Refugee Story
Edmonton teacher Winnie Yeung created this story based on interviews with a student, Abu Bakr al Rabeeah, a refugee from Syria. The result is a remarkable, eye-opening and moving true story of how one young boy lived through a war zone in Syria and ultimately found safety with his family in Edmonton. A finalist for CBC’s Canada Reads and the Governor General’s Literary Award.
WINNIE YEUNG
Highlands School, Edmonton
Freehand Books
PODCAST/SOCIAL MEDIA
The Science Pawdcast
Red Deer science teacher Jason Zackowski hosts a podcast called The Science Pawdcast and uses Twitter to share educational videos starring his two dogs Bunsen Berner and Beaker, “the science dogs.” (They have more than 82,000 Twitter followers.)
JASON ZACKOWSKI
Lindsay Thurber High School, Red Deer
Twitter: @bunsenbernerbmd
uLead Podcast
The uLead Podcast is produced by the Council for School Leadership of the Alberta Teachers’ Association. Recent episodes have included “The Importance of Play” with Dr. Pasi Sahlberg and “Digital Wellbeing” with Dr. Michael Rich. The podcast is available through a variety of platforms such as Spotify and Stitcher.
MUSIC
Steel & Timber
Featuring teacher Nathan Harris-Thompson on banjo and lead vocals, Calgary band Steel & Timber released a self-titled album in the spring of 2021. The album is the band’s third, following Everything you Own in 2017 and Home Brew in 2015.
A YYC Music Award nominee, the band is a blend of country, roots and folk rock influenced by bands like the Black Keys, the Avett Brothers, Johnny Cash and Jack White. They are popular in Calgary’s music venues, farmers markets and community events.
NATHAN HARRIS-THOMPSON
Rainbow Creek Elementary, Chestermere
https://www.facebook.com/SteelTimber
www.steel-and-timber.com
Got an idea? If you’d like to make a submission for publication in Who’s Out There, email a summary and photos to managing editor Cory Hare at cory.hare@ata.ab.ca.